Beowulf And Grendel Essay
Psychoanalysis is the theory of personality developed by Sigmund Freud that focuses on repression and unconscious forces and includes the concepts of sexuality and the division the psyche into the id, superego, and ego. Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis. Freud believed the unconscious mind is the mental process of individuals make themselves unknowingly. He later divided the unconscious into the id, superego, ego. These 3 fundamental structures are what the personality develops from. The conflict of what each desires determines how individuals behave and interact with the world. Id is the personality component made up of unconscious energy that works to satisfy instant gratification of basic needs and drives. A person can be satisfied doing something for
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themselves or being satisfied through others’ happiness. The id has no judgment of right or wrong and lacks logic. It has 2 key instincts, Eros and Thanatos. Eros is the life instinct that focuses on pleasure- seeking tendencies and avoiding pain. Thanatos focuses on the use of violent or aggressive drives to cause destruction, the death instinct. The superego is the social component of the personality that is based on one’s idea of perfection. The idea is determined by what parents and society teach. It is the moral part of humans and dictates our belief of good and bad or right and wrong. Lastly, the ego is the psychological component of the personality that acts as the conscience and makes the decisions. The ego is partly conscious and unconscious. It balances the demands of the id and superego. Humans experience three levels of consciousness, unconsciousness, pre-consciousness, and consciousness. The ego controls the consciousness but is present in all three levels. The ego makes decisions based on reality. Beowulf’s id took satisfaction in seeing his people safe and happy through his heroic battles against monsters. Therefore, Beowulf was fulfilling the Eros instinct. “I count it as truth that I had a greater might in the sea, hardships mid the waves, than any other man” (Unknown 9). He finds pleasure in participating in extreme violence. His id is what was holds his desire to partake in the battles he goes against. The superego is what makes a warrior because it is what is morally right in his mind. “but we two shall do without swords in the night, if he dare to seek war without weapons…” (Unknown 13). From what is told in the book, Beowulf’s ego has no limit. He fights naked and unarmed. This can hint that his id takes over most of his judgments, because most would think to protect themselves with as much as they possibly could. Grendel is like Beowulf in one way, he enjoys extreme violence.
The difference is that Grendel kills for his own satisfaction. He is fulfilling Thanatos, the death instinct. “The eternal Lord avenged the murder on the race of Cain, he slew Able. He did not rejoice in that feud. He, the Lord, drove him from mankind for that crime. Thence sprang all evil spawn, ogres and elves and sea-monsters, giants too, who struggled long time against God. He paid them requital for that.” (Unknown 3). Grendel is essentially the descendent of Cain, through the Christian influence that was added. Grendel and his mother, like Able, are exiled. They live alone. Grendel is jealous of the life the warriors live and the noise they make in the mead-hall is just a constant reminder. This is what causes Grendel to kill them so gruesomely. Grendel’s id seeks acceptance and attention, but because of what he is, he will never be accepted. Making him kill to fill that desire for acceptance. His superego and ego seem to play no role in his conscious mind, because his deeds of killings are not morally right. They are an act on impulses. Grendel is a monster but has human feelings because he is the descendant of
one. Beowulf and Grendel both enjoy killing. Beowulf kills to fulfill his desire to be a warrior and protect people. Grendel kills to satisfy his desire to be accepted. Their id, superego, and ego are similar and different and causes them to be completely different. Also, makes Beowulf stronger than Grendel. Grendel acts on impulse and doesn’t consider any outcomes.
themselves or being satisfied through others’ happiness. The id has no judgment of right or wrong and lacks logic. It has 2 key instincts, Eros and Thanatos. Eros is the life instinct that focuses on pleasure- seeking tendencies and avoiding pain. Thanatos focuses on the use of violent or aggressive drives to cause destruction, the death instinct. The superego is the social component of the personality that is based on one’s idea of perfection. The idea is determined by what parents and society teach. It is the moral part of humans and dictates our belief of good and bad or right and wrong. Lastly, the ego is the psychological component of the personality that acts as the conscience and makes the decisions. The ego is partly conscious and unconscious. It balances the demands of the id and superego. Humans experience three levels of consciousness, unconsciousness, pre-consciousness, and consciousness. The ego controls the consciousness but is present in all three levels. The ego makes decisions based on reality. Beowulf’s id took satisfaction in seeing his people safe and happy through his heroic battles against monsters. Therefore, Beowulf was fulfilling the Eros instinct. “I count it as truth that I had a greater might in the sea, hardships mid the waves, than any other man” (Unknown 9). He finds pleasure in participating in extreme violence. His id is what was holds his desire to partake in the battles he goes against. The superego is what makes a warrior because it is what is morally right in his mind. “but we two shall do without swords in the night, if he dare to seek war without weapons…” (Unknown 13). From what is told in the book, Beowulf’s ego has no limit. He fights naked and unarmed. This can hint that his id takes over most of his judgments, because most would think to protect themselves with as much as they possibly could. Grendel is like Beowulf in one way, he enjoys extreme violence.
The difference is that Grendel kills for his own satisfaction. He is fulfilling Thanatos, the death instinct. “The eternal Lord avenged the murder on the race of Cain, he slew Able. He did not rejoice in that feud. He, the Lord, drove him from mankind for that crime. Thence sprang all evil spawn, ogres and elves and sea-monsters, giants too, who struggled long time against God. He paid them requital for that.” (Unknown 3). Grendel is essentially the descendent of Cain, through the Christian influence that was added. Grendel and his mother, like Able, are exiled. They live alone. Grendel is jealous of the life the warriors live and the noise they make in the mead-hall is just a constant reminder. This is what causes Grendel to kill them so gruesomely. Grendel’s id seeks acceptance and attention, but because of what he is, he will never be accepted. Making him kill to fill that desire for acceptance. His superego and ego seem to play no role in his conscious mind, because his deeds of killings are not morally right. They are an act on impulses. Grendel is a monster but has human feelings because he is the descendant of
one. Beowulf and Grendel both enjoy killing. Beowulf kills to fulfill his desire to be a warrior and protect people. Grendel kills to satisfy his desire to be accepted. Their id, superego, and ego are similar and different and causes them to be completely different. Also, makes Beowulf stronger than Grendel. Grendel acts on impulse and doesn’t consider any outcomes.